Residents in a Ocala neighborhood could face charges after a convicted sex offender apparently committed suicide in despair over signs labeling him a "child rapist" posted in his neighborhood, according to Local 6 News.

Clovis Ivan Claxton, 38, who was convicted of sexually assaulting a child in Washington in 1991, had lived at 3230 SE. 45 Street in Ocala for about two years.

Tuesday, Claxton noticed bright yellow, laminated signs displaying his picture, date of birth, address and the words "child rapist" hanging on power poles in his neighborhood. A county commissioner proposed posting such information in the community but Sheriff Ed Dean rejected the idea.

After seeing the signs, Claxton called the sheriff's office and said that he felt "extremely scared and feels that people in the neighborhood are now out to possibly hurt him."

"Once he made these type statements our deputies took this man into custody under the Baker Act law and transported him to a local mental health facility for evaluation," Marion County Sheriff's Capt. Denis Strow said. "He was later released."

Tuesday morning, Claxton's parents found him dead of an apparent overdose with one of the child rapist flyers by his side.

Jane Claxton blames County Commissioner Randy Harris, who proposed the flyers, for her son's death, according to a report.

"Just don't get on the bandwagon," she said. "There's going to be other (deaths) if Randy Harris has his way. He hasn't been in trouble for 18 years, and he's branded for life."

Harris said sex offenders need to take responsibility for their actions.

"I don't blame his death to the signs," he said, adding he was undeterred in his quest to alert people to sex offenders living in their neighborhoods.

Dean said it is an example that police work should be left to authorities.

"We need to keep calm, do the right thing," Dean said. "Not go overboard with it. Protect our children. Use all of the resources we can but not stir a community up to a frenzy."

Claxton's death follows the high-profile arrests of sex offenders in the separate killings of two Florida girls less than seven weeks apart. State lawmakers have responded by passing a bill to require lifetime supervision of some child sex offenders.

State law allows for flyers to be printed and distributed, Local 6 News reported. But, altering the signs or flyers is against the law.

Claxton's address had been added to the top of the flyer along with the words "child rapist."

"It is a violation of the law," Strow said. "And should we find who perpretrated it, I'm sure it is a case that would be reviewed by the state's attorney office to see if they wish to pursue it."

The person responsible for the flyers faces up to 1 year in jail.

The sheriff's office is investigating and an autopsy was scheduled for Friday.

Marion County is located northwest of Orlando and has more than 600 registered sex offenders.

This to me is the crux of the question. If as some many on this thread have said, they never get better, they want this, they cannot change. Then I say they never are released back into society. I have held for a long time once you have done your time, and that may include a probationary period after release from jail or prison, but once everything is finished then you have paid for your offense and should be restored ie, voting, RTKBA, etc,.... The increasing stiffness of penalties after re-offending is supposed to make re-offending less likely if this is not working, or as some believe in the case of sex offenders cannot work then I think first time penalties ought to drastically increased maybe 25 years off the streets, chemical impotence or castration, something anything. This case with 18 years passing proves two things, one the information is out there and you OUGHT to be aware of those registered near you, and two no good deed goes unpunished. What did the folks who put these posters up accomplish??? Anyone ???? Chirp chirp

SImple: no sympathy. if it is legally important that he was mentally 10, he should have been tried as a juvenile and the records would be sealed. you freaking liberal morons at CNN who make a big deal over how maybe his rights were violated by the sign have never experienced a loved one getting raped or molested, let alone if they were a child at the time. the whole issue of child rape and molestation could be cured by making rape once again a capital offense, and adding child molestation to that. Hurt a five year old? no problem. You are dead.

There were no rights violated here. And I'm not against shaming or ostracizing people--especially for bad behavior.

However, I do believe that if someone has committed an offense that endangers the public (speeding among them), then everyone should be able to know who around them is dangerous so they can be ostracized as seen fit.

I have had a few speeding tickets over the years (1-10 MPH over), and I would understand why some would consider me dangerous, even if I don't.

The children lose their rights at the time of the rape. And it doesn’t stop there. It leaves them an empty shell. There life stops at that moment. And it replays over and over again in their head.For the rest of their life. And it doesn't stop there it's like a tidal wave. It affects the victims loved ones, future husbands, wifes and lets not forget their future children. But yet, someone asked what about the rapist rights. Well I'm sorry but that's what he lost when he became a rapist. His rights!!! And I think if the rest of the nation would protect and take care of their children the way this neighborhood did we would live in a better world.

And are you honestly putting speeding tickets and child rapist in the same topic.

Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.